Changes

==Content, authorship and date==

==Content, authorship and date==

The Hebrew Book of Esther is more purely historical than any other book of Scripture, except the books of [[Maccabee|1 and 2 Maccabees]] which were removed from the Protestant Bible; and in the shorter Hebrew version is unusual in never mentioning [[God]], and it has this remarkable peculiarity that the name of God does not occur in it from first to last in any form.;<ref name="e"/> instead, the book conveys insights on topics of "knowledge, wisdom, holiness, and love."<ref>[http://www.trivia-library.com/a/bible-numbers-and-statistics.htm Trivia Library. Bible Numbers and Statistics]</ref>  It has, however, been well observed that, though the name of God be not in it, the shorter Hebrew version wonderfully exhibits the providential government of God, and the certain judgment that comes upon those who plot to destroy his people.<ref name="e"/> This fact may have finally persuaded rabbinical authorities in the 2nd century to continue to grant it a place in the Hebrew canon along with the Book of Ruth, the Book of Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon. However, the actual historicity of a "Council of Jabneh/Jamnia/Yavneh" is debated. See [http://catholicdefense.blogspot.com/2011/07/can-protestants-rely-upon-council-of.html Council of Jamnia?]

The Hebrew Book of Esther is more purely historical than any other book of Scripture, except the books of [[Maccabee|1 and 2 Maccabees]] which were removed from the Protestant Bible; and in the shorter Hebrew version is unusual in never mentioning [[God]], and it has this remarkable peculiarity that the name of God does not occur in it from first to last in any form.;<ref name="e"/> instead, the book conveys insights on topics of "knowledge, wisdom, holiness, and love."<ref>[http://www.trivia-library.com/a/bible-numbers-and-statistics.htm Trivia Library. Bible Numbers and Statistics]</ref>  It has, however, been well observed that, though the name of God be not in it, the shorter Hebrew version wonderfully exhibits the providential government of God, and the certain judgment that comes upon those who plot to destroy his people.<ref name="e"/> This fact may have finally persuaded rabbinical authorities in the 2nd century to continue to grant it a place in the Hebrew canon along with the Book of Ruth, the Book of Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon. However, the actual historicity of a [[Council of Jamnia|"Council of Jabneh/Jamnia/Yavneh"]] is debated. See [http://catholicdefense.blogspot.com/2011/07/can-protestants-rely-upon-council-of.html Council of Jamnia?]

Written in the third or second century B.C., the authorship of the Book of Esther is unknown.<ref name="e">{{Easton|Esther}}</ref> It was evidently written after the death of Ahasuerus (the [[Xerxes]] of the Greeks), which took place 465 B.C.<ref name="e"/> The minute and particular account also given of many historical details makes it probable that the writer was contemporary with [[Mordecai]] and [[Esther]].<ref name="e"/> Hence we may conclude that the book was written probably about 444-434 B.C., and that the author was one of the Jews of the dispersion.<ref name="e"/> The prayers of Mordecai and Esther which the Hebrew writer omitted were included by the rabbinical Greek translators of the Septuagint, which was the Bible of the Greek-speaking Jews of the Dispersion and the original scriptures read by the apostles.

Written in the third or second century B.C., the authorship of the Book of Esther is unknown.<ref name="e">{{Easton|Esther}}</ref> It was evidently written after the death of Ahasuerus (the [[Xerxes]] of the Greeks), which took place 465 B.C.<ref name="e"/> The minute and particular account also given of many historical details makes it probable that the writer was contemporary with [[Mordecai]] and [[Esther]].<ref name="e"/> Hence we may conclude that the book was written probably about 444-434 B.C., and that the author was one of the Jews of the dispersion.<ref name="e"/> The prayers of Mordecai and Esther which the Hebrew writer omitted were included by the rabbinical Greek translators of the Septuagint, which was the Bible of the Greek-speaking Jews of the Dispersion and the original scriptures read by the apostles.